7: Life cycle nutrition of cats - growth Flashcards

1
Q

Nursing kittens depend on the queen for…

A
  • food
  • antibodies
  • warmth
  • hygiene
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2
Q

Nursing kittens cry when… Poor interaction with the queen can lead to…

A

Hungry, cold, hot or in discomfort

Poor interaction may result in cannibalism or neglect

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3
Q

Body temperature of nursing kittens? What is dangerous

A

At birth = 36C
1 week of age = 37.5C

Body temp poorly regulated during first 4 weeks. Queen maintains temp and humidity of nestbox.
Hyperthermia as detrimental as hypothermia

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4
Q

When does the queen produce colostrum? What nutrients are in it

A

24 to 72 hours after parturition

High DM content
Low lactose level (increases as lactation continues)
Protein and lipid levels decline from day 1 to 3, then rebound back up

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5
Q

Why do nursing kittens need colostrum? When?

A

Naive immune system. Antibodies not transferred in placenta.
Should receive colostrum within 12h of birth
~16h after birth passive immunoglobulin transfer stops

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6
Q

What nutrients are found in milk? What is it needed for

A
  • water, protein, fat, lactose, minerals and vitamins
  • high levels of arginine and taurine
  • essential f.a.
  • milk DHA concentration reflects queens intake

Need milk for normal growth and development

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7
Q

Trend in Ca:N ratio of milk

A

Ca:N ratio reduces during suckling (around week 3-4), then goes back up at week 6
Insufficient Ca:N ratio for skeletal calcification

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8
Q

Variation in different nutrients in milk as lactation progresses

A
  • increase in milk energy, protein, lactose, Ca and p levels
  • decrease in Cu, Fe and Mg
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9
Q

What is the relationship between milk protein and growth rate

A

For most mammals, the high the % protein in the milk the less days required to double birth weight (faster growth)

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10
Q

Typical birth weight of kittens?
Typical weekly weight gain?

A

85 to 120 g (average 100 g) birth weight

Weekly weight gain ~100 g

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11
Q

Energy requirement of nursing kittens? Energy content of milk?

A

Energy requirement = 20-25 kcal/100 g BW

Milk contains between 0.85 and 1.6 kcal/mL : increases with progressing lactation

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12
Q

Why might excess cows milk be detrimental to kittens?

A

High in sugars/CHOs that kittens do not have the enzymes to digest

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13
Q

What ingredients should be included in milk replacer for orphaned kittens

A

Lactose, fatty acids (unsaturated; fish oil), whey protein, LCFA

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14
Q

Describe the weaning process in kittens

A

Gradual process
Queen starts avoiding kittens, kittens start eating more food

Starts 3 to 4 weeks of age
Completed at 6 to 10 weeks of age (6wks = 30% of caloric requirement from solid food)

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15
Q

Impacts of forced weaning? Late weaning?

A

Stressful event if forced. No maternal antibodies (reduced immune defense). Increased morbidity and mortality in post weaning period.

Late = more time for immune system maturation, decreased kitten mortality in post weaning phase

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16
Q

What types of food should be used in the weaning process? Which shouldn’t?

A

First offer moist food with water or milk replacer
By 6 to 8 weeks teach kittens to eat dry food

Semi-moist food promotes highly acidic urinary pH. Metabolic acidosis. Impaired bone mineralization. Use limited amounts of semi-moist treats.

17
Q

When is the post-weaning to adulthood phase (growth)? During this phase, nutrient requirements need to support…

A

8 weeks of age until 10 to 12 months

Nutrient requirements = maintenance + growth
(growth slows with nutritional deficiencies)

18
Q

Slide 23

A

Look at formula, understand it

19
Q

Describe protein requirement of a growing kitten

A
  • high at weaning, decrease gradually to adult level
  • higher requirements for sulfur amino acids than other species
  • 56.3 g/1000 kcal ME (adult cat is 50g)
20
Q

Describe fat requirements in growing kittens

A
  • higher in growing cat than adult
  • docosahexenoic acid (DHA) important for neural development
  • 9% DM recommended
  • 22.5 RA g/1000 kcal ME
21
Q

Essential f.a.? Other?

A

Linoleic, a-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid

EPA + DHA for brain development (found in fish oil)

22
Q

Fat digestibility in growing kittens? How might you ameliorate low fat digestibility using ingredients?

A

Fat digestibility increases with age (between 9-17 weeks)

Improve digestibility by feeding PUFA’s (more digestible) and not a lot of saturated fats

23
Q

Recommended Ca and P allowance in growing kittens? What happens if diet is low in Ca?

A

Ca: 440 mg/kg BW per day
P: 400 mg/kg BW per day

Low in Ca high in P = nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism = osteitis fibrosa (brittle bone)

24
Q

Carbohydrate requirements in growing kittens

A
  • no known requirements
  • adequate supply of gluconeogenic amino acids
  • can readily digest (some) starch in cereal grains
25
Q

Benefit or consequences of feeding fiber to growing kittens

A

Prebiotic fiber can aid in gut health

Too much fiber = loose feces, hinder digestion of other nutrients

26
Q

Slide 29

A

look

27
Q

‘Normal’ eating behaviour in cats

A

Hunt solitarily, strictly carnivorous
12-20 meals/day ad libitum
Hunt and sleep during the day and night
Average mouse = 30 kcal = 8% of cat’s daily energy requirement

28
Q

How do cats adjust to diet energy densities? Why is it difficult to assess ‘normal’ behaviour in cats

A

Would normally adjust food intake to diet energy density. Pet cats with high energy diets combined with little exercise may face obesity.

Because of domestication

29
Q

Describe the cats predatory drive

A

Strong
Cat will stop eating meal to make a kill
Owners may confuse predatory behaviour with hunger

30
Q

What are cats sensitive to in terms of eating behaviour? Food preferences may be…

A

Sensitive to physical form (including texture), odor and taste of food

Inherited

31
Q

How are eating behaviours of cats learned and inherited? Cats may become…

A
  • easily influence food preference of kittens with queen present
  • queens trained to eat bananas and mashed potatoes in the presence of meat = kittens ate bananas and mashed potatoes

Neophobic (dislike diff foods) or neophilic (likes)

32
Q

How to feed a cat to promote eating behaviour

A
  • use animal products: fat, protein, meat extracts, free aa found in muscle
  • not attracted to taste of sugars
  • averse to some flavors derived from plant products (e.g. medium-chain TGs like coconut oil)
  • dislike foods with powdery, sticky or greasy textures
33
Q

Why do queens exhibit coprophagia behaviour

A

With kittens <30 days of age
To keep the nest clean, prevent smells that may attract predators

34
Q

Describe plant or grass eating in cats

A
  • natural behaviour
  • grass is not digested
  • acts as local irritant, sometimes stimulate vomiting
  • may serve as purgative to eliminate hair or other indigestible material (hairballs)
  • response to nutritional deficiencie, boredom, taste preference
35
Q

Learned taste aversions in cats

A
  • adaptive response
  • linked to negative digestive tract experience (vomiting, nausea)
  • up to 40 days
  • if eats food and gets sick (even for diff reason) they link the two events and avoid that food
36
Q

Anorexia behaviour in cats

A
  • few days of inappetence not detrimental to healthy cat
  • malnutrition, reduced immune function, increased risk for hepatic lipidosis
  • can be due to stress, unacceptable foods or concurrent disease
  • change diet to highly palatable food
37
Q

What is hepatic lipidosis

A

In obese cats. When energy is being released from adipose it can accumulate in the liver. Too many f.a. in the liver that can be oxidized for energy

38
Q

Describe fixed-food preferences in cats

A

Food type in first 6 months of kitten’s life influences food preferences
Fixed-food preferences when only fed limited number of foods

39
Q

Describe polyphagia in cats

A
  • excessive food consumption
  • can be mediated by disease, drugs, psychological stress and underfeeding